Styx releases "Paradise Theatre" 1981

Uber-rock group Styx released Paradise Theatre January 19, 1981, their tenth studio album.  It went to #1 on the Billboard Album Chart and stayed for 3 weeks.  It's the only album to reach #1 in the U.S. and the fourth consecutive triple-platinum.

It generated five singles, three of which made it to the top 10 on several charts.  Too Much Time on My Hands (my favorite) reached #2 and Rockin' the Paradise made it to #8 on the Mainstream Rock chart.  Too Much Time on My Hands went to #9 and Best of Times went to #3 on the Pop Singles Chart.

Dennis DeYoung wrote Best of Times and sang lead.  Tommy Shaw wrote and sang lead on Too Much Time on My Hands.  James Young wrote Snowblind with DeYoung and sang lead with Tommy Shaw.

Chuck Panozzo played bass guitar and his twin brother John played drums.

 

"Renegade" by Styx released 1979

Renegade by the rock group Styx was released January 9, 1979.  It was the third single to be released from their eighth studio album Pieces of Eight, which had been released the September before.  Renegade reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring.  Tommy Shaw sang the lead and James Young played lead guitar.

The song is a first-person narrative of an outlaw who is about to be executed by hanging for the crimes he has committed.

Happy birthday, Styx rocker James Young!

James Young, born November 14, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois, is guitarist and vocalist for the super rock group Styx.  He also wrote and co-wrote songs for the band, including Snowblind, one of his biggest hits where he sings lead with Tommy Shaw.  It comes from my favorite Styx album, Paradise Theatre.

Right now, he is the only original band member left and has appeared on all Styx's albums. 

Styx releases "Kilroy Was Here" 1983

Styx released their eleventh studio album, Kilroy Was Here, February 22, 1983.  The concept album, which is based on a dystopian future where rock music is outlawed, was in part a mocking reponse to fundamentalist Christian groups, who managed to persuade the Arkansas State Senate to pass a bill requiring that all albums containing "back-masking" be labeled.  Styx was among other groups such as the Beatles, ELO, Pink Floyd and Queen.

According to wikipedia.com, the fifth track Heavy Metal Poisoning, contains the two mottoes found on the U.S. one-dollar bill back masked.

This is the last album of original material to be released by the "classic" lineup of Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw, James Young, and twins John and Chuck Panozzo. 

The biggest hit from teh album was Mr. Roboto, which reach #3 on the Billboard charts.